Justified Freely!

Missionary Roger Hopgood shared in our morning services today. He is a missionary to our nation's military primarily in the Northwest. What a tremendous ministry it is to take the gospel message to the young men and women who serve our country.

This week I'd like to introduce you to a great family in our church. Patrick and Debbie Hughes have been a tremendous blessing and encouragement to our church. They have been in the daycare business for over sixteen years and have a big heart for young people. Patrick is a flight instructor. They both attended Bob Jones University together and were married shortly after leaving school.  They have four beautiful and talented children. Patrick has been a great encouragement to me personally as he leads music, teaches both children and adult classes, and has taken up the mantle of doing whatever needs to be done. Debbie has a big heart of compassion and uses her gifts to edify and encourage the ladies in our church.

Rom 3:23-26 teaches a wealth of doctrine that is ultimately important to our faith. Verse 24 says, "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." 

Verse 26 says that God justifies those that "believe in Jesus." Comparing other scriptures we understand that simple belief in the fact that a man named Jesus once existed does not justify anyone. The devil believes in Jesus but he most assuredly is not saved. The belief that saves that the Bible teaches is a transfer of trust onto the finished work of Jesus Christ through His death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus' death paid the demand of God for payment for sin. God was "propitiated" by Jesus' sacrifice of himself on the cross. Because Jesus redeemed us, we stand justified before a holy righteous God.

What a tremendous thought. Thank you Lord!